Charity

All the proceeds from the show go to the Monaco Aide and Presence Foundation, which assists underdeveloped areas mainly in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and Brazil. So far, many projects have been successfully carried out; a hospital at Port Bouet in Côte d'Ivoire serving a population of over 170,000 inhabitants, a home in Katukuranda, Sri Lanka for handicapped girls, a hospital and school in Niger, and a hospital in Cambodia. Additionally, a home for abandoned children in Brazil, plus a village for the homeless in Madagascar have been constructed, and the complete renovation of an existing hospital in Mokatam, Egypt.

The Awards and Award Winners

According to the official World Music Awards website: "The World's best-selling recording-artists in the various categories are determined after a thorough research conducted by the organization on record certifications and record company sales figures". The national member associations of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) is the organisation that provides the World music organisation with the names of their overall best-selling artists and groups.

Apart from the world's best-selling artists in the various categories and the national best-selling artists, special millennium awards were presented in 2000, for the very first time to the world's best-selling recording-artist of all time. The awards were presented to Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey in the male and female categories respectively.

Records

Most WMAs won

Mariah Carey has received sixteen World Music Awards, the most for any artist.

Michael Jackson has received fifteen World Music Awards, the most for any male artist.

Most WMAs won in a single year

Whitney Houston has the record for winning five Awards at the 1994 WMA show. Some of these include, World's Best Selling R&B Artist, World's Best Selling Overall Recording Artist, and World's Best Selling Recording Artist of the Era.

Two years later, Michael Jackson tied this record at the 1996 World Music Awards show. Some of his awards include "Best Selling Album Of All Time, Thriller, Best Selling Male Artist of 1996, and Best Selling Artist Ever.

In 2003 50 cent made this record a three-way-tie at the WMA show. His awards include World's Best Selling Artist of 2003, World's Best Male Pop Artist, World's Best RnB Artist, World's Best Hip-Hop Artist and World's Best New Artist.